Rimac's Concept One

Price tag: $980,000

Croatian automaker Rimac's Concept One electric vehicle is due for an 88-car production run, and the manufacturer claims the car is able to reach 62mph in 2.8 seconds. The Concept One has a range of 500km per charge.

Rimac's car chassis is created from carbon fibre and contains dual magnet oil cooled motors capable of 600 kW and 10,000 RPM at their peak.

The car is powered by a lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry 650V battery, with a capacity of 91 kWh, and is encased in aluminium.

The Rolls Royce Phantom experimental 102EX

Price tag: $1.2 million

The Rolls Royce Phantom 102EX experimental electric vehicle was revealed at the General Motor Show in 2011.

The experimental, all-electric car is sadly not destined for consumer consumption, and was designed as "as a test bed, designed to explore established BEV technologies, to pose as well as to answer questions," according to the luxury car manufacturer.

However, this doesn't mean we can't enjoy the aluminium frame, lithium ion battery pack and the car's two electric motors which have a maximum power output of 290kW and torque of 800Nm available over a wide band.

Tests showed that the Phantom was able to run up to a range of up to 200km, and 0 - 60mph could be achieved in under eight seconds -- 5.7 seconds is possible in the standard Phantom -- with top speeds of 160kph.

Tesla's Model X

Price tag: Estimated $50,000

Tesla's Model X, the third all-electric model behind the Roadster and Model S, is a seven-passenger family-friendly EV.

Expected to become commercially available in 2014, the Model X is a stretched-out version of the Model S sedan, and is fit with a 17-inch central interactive dashboard, "falcon" doors that hinge just above the window, and has a single, rear electric motor. Customers can choose between a 60kWh or 85kWh battery pack.

In the same manner as the sedan, the Model X will also be available in a sporty Performance version which Tesla claims can hit 60mph in under five seconds.

Although pricing is yet to be formally announced, the automaker says that it will be similar to the Model S's $49,900 price tag.

2013 Fisker Karma

Price tag: Base estimate $105,000

The Fisker Karma, now on sale, is a coupe-like four-door sedan boasting a gas engine and electric motor.

The plug-in hybrid uses a 20kWh lithium ion battery and is paired with a four-cylinder gas engine, reaching 403 horsepower, and can reach a rate of 0 - 60mph in 7.9 seconds. In the electric-only mode, the car is able to reach 95mph. In sports mode, this increases to 0 - 60mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 125mph.

Recharging the battery takes a minimum of six hours. The car is also equipped with solar panels on the roof that Fisker says can provide five additional miles of driving per week.

The Karma's two-litre Ecotec engine returns 20 miles to the gallon. However, if the electric battery is fully charged, the EPA says customers can avoid switching to fossil fuels for a total of 32 miles.

The Lightning GT

Price tag: Estimated $280,000

The Lightning Car Company's GT is a British electric vehicle with light carbon bodywork and is encased in an aluminium chassis.

The car contains a lithium titanate battery system to keep the car as green as possible and give the battery the ability to quickly recharge -- apparently in as little as ten minutes -- and have a long cycle life. The sporty EV is able to achieve over 150 miles on its standard specifications on a single charge, and an excess of 225 miles with optional range extenders.

The Lighting GT will be powered by a 300kWh -- 400hp -- twin motor powertrain.

The Eliica

Price tag: $Undisclosed ($225,000+?)

The Eliica is a Japanese concept car from Keio University. The electric vehicle is able to go up to speeds of 230mph and allow drivers to go as far as 220 miles on a single charge. The battery is expected to take four hours to power up.

As noted by Green Autoblog, the university wants sponsorship to build 200 of the four-passenger seat cars, probably for approximately $255,000 each.

Tesla's Model S

Tesla's Model S electric vehicle is a light EV encased within an aluminium chassis, is equipped with eight airbags, and is able to reach 60mph in 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 125mph.

The Model S is offered with three battery options -- 60kWh, 85kWh and an enhanced Performance 85kWh type -- which can reach an estimated 240, 310 and 310 miles respectively on a single charge. The EV can be charged at a rate of roughly 100km in range per hour.

Assuming you drive the car for 15,000 miles per year, electricity costs are expected to be roughly $640.

Tesla's Roadster

Price tag: £87,945 / £102,895

Tesla's 2012 Roadster, available in a standard and sporty variation, is able to reach top speeds of 125mph. The electric vehicle can get to 62mph in 3.9 seconds when purchased in the standard version, and 3.7 seconds if you go for Performance.

The Roadster is powered by a lithium ion battery and takes 3.5 hours to charge. On each charge, the car can travel up to 211 miles, and the battery is estimated to last seven years.

However, after losing its federal safety exemption, the Roadster is no longer on sale in the United States.

Mercedes SLS AMG Electric drive

Price tag: £165,030 ($264,840)

Mercedes' SLS AMG coupe Electric Drive is able to accelerate from 0 - 62mph in 3.7 seconds. Able to reach a top speed of 199mph, Mercedes' all-electric vehicle uses technology originally designed for F1 cars to stand out from the crowd.

The car has a combined maximum output of 552kw and a maximum torque of 1000 Nm. The engine -- powered by four electric motors -- has a capacity of over 6000cc, and the lithium ion 60kWh battery -- contained within the car's carbon fibre chassis -- is kept close to the ground to assist in the car's weight distribution.

The battery is able to charge in 20 hours through a standard outlet, or three hours with an optional 22kW accessory.

Another interesting feature is the eleven loudspeakers which make the electric vehicle sound like a "real" car.

Rimac's Concept One

Price tag: $980,000

Croatian automaker Rimac's Concept One electric vehicle is due for an 88-car production run, and the manufacturer claims the car is able to reach 62mph in 2.8 seconds. The Concept One has a range of 500km per charge.

Rimac's car chassis is created from carbon fibre and contains dual magnet oil cooled motors capable of 600 kW and 10,000 RPM at their peak.

The car is powered by a lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry 650V battery, with a capacity of 91 kWh, and is encased in aluminium.

Charlie Osborne, a medical anthropologist who studied at the University of Kent, UK, is a journalist, freelance photographer and former teacher.
She has spent years travelling and working across Europe and the Middle East as a teacher, and has been involved in the running of businesses ranging from media and events to B2B sales. Charli...
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